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Lab Report 1

This experiment aimed to qualitatively analyze two unknown cation solutions. Tests like precipitation reactions and flame tests identified the cations in Unknown Solution 1 as silver (Ag+) and calcium (Ca2+). A centrifuge was used to separate precipitates from solutions by mass. Flame tests can identify cations based on flame color, but some ions have similar colors. Improving measurement accuracy with micropipettes could enhance repeating the experiment.

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Annie Chen
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3K views

Lab Report 1

This experiment aimed to qualitatively analyze two unknown cation solutions. Tests like precipitation reactions and flame tests identified the cations in Unknown Solution 1 as silver (Ag+) and calcium (Ca2+). A centrifuge was used to separate precipitates from solutions by mass. Flame tests can identify cations based on flame color, but some ions have similar colors. Improving measurement accuracy with micropipettes could enhance repeating the experiment.

Uploaded by

Annie Chen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CH 204 Introduction to Chemical Practice

Experiment 1 Qualitative Analysis of Cations


Annie Chen*
Ashley Cauich
TA: Da Xie
September 18, 2015

RESULTS & DISCUSSION


The main objective of this experiment was to use qualitative analysis
to correctly determine the identities of two unknown cations in solution.
Qualitative tests such as precipitation reactions and flame tests
demonstrated the chemical principles of solubility and electron excitation.
The identity of the cations in Unknown Solution 1 were found to be Ag +
(silver) and Ca2+ (calcium). The confirmation steps (in order of formula
reaction, total ionic reaction, and net ionic reaction) in identifying the cations
were as follows:
Ag(NH3)2Cl (aq) + 2HNO3 (aq) AgCl (s) + 2NH4NO3 (aq)
Ag+ (aq) + 2NH3 (aq) + Cl- (aq) + 2H+ + NO3- (aq) AgCl (s) + 2NH4+ (aq) +
NO3- (aq)
Ag+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) AgCl (s)

CaCO3 (aq) + K2CrO4 (aq) CaC2O4 (s) + K2CO3 (aq)


Ca2+ (aq) + CO32- (aq) + K+ (aq) + C2O42- (aq) CaC2O4 (s) + CO32- (aq) + K+
(aq)
Ca2+ (aq) + C2O42- (aq) CaC2O4 (s)
The possible ions for Part A were Pb 2+ (lead) and Ag+. HCL (hydrochloric
acid) was added to the unknown solution in the beginning to separate the
ions from the solution, since Group I ions form insoluble compounds when
combined with Cl-.1 HCL was a strong acid so it dissociated easily in the
solution, and that freed Cl- to bind with the unknown cation. A centrifuge was
used repeatedly to clearly separate the precipitates from the solutions in the
experiment. The centrifuge uses centripetal force to separate the compounds
in the test tubes by mass. Since the precipitates had more mass than the
solutions, the solids were concentrated at the bottom of the test tubes,

leaving the solution able to be easily pipetted out. Before use, the centrifuge
had to be balanced, meaning that there was an equal weight distribution
across the machine. If the centrifuge was not balanced, the high rotation
speeds would have damaged the machine.2
In step 5, the precipitate was heated to allow possible PbCl2 to re-dissolve
and the less-soluble AgCl to remain in a solid precipitate. In Part B, the
possible cations were Ba2+ (barium) or Ca2+. In Step 12, Kr2CrO4 was added to
either confirm the presence or absence of the barium cation since BaCrO 4
(barium chromate) is insoluble. In the case of Unknown 1, there was no
precipitate so it was confirmed that the cation was not Ba 2+. Step 12 could
have led to a false positive if the solution was still cloudy before adding
NH4OH and K2CrO4. A false positive is a test result that identified for
something that was not present. In this scenario, a false positive would have
led to the identification of Ba2+ instead of Ca2+.
In addition to precipitation reactions, flame tests were also applied to
different ions to observe the flame color. Flame tests could be useful in
identifying cations in solution because certain ions burn specific colors. The
main limitation of using a cation flame test to identify a cation in a solution
because some ions burn the same color, or colors so minute in difference
that they cannot be distinguished by the human eye. For example, CaCl 2
(calcium chloride) and NaCl (sodium chloride) both burned orange over a
flame.
In the event that the experiment were to be repeated, micropipettes
would be used to pipette the solutions. The plastic disposable pipettes were
hard to control, and as a result the volumes of the solutions added were not
accurate. Even though the volumes were not so important because no
quantitative data was taken, the test tubes were only able to hold a limited
amount of solution, and pipetting too much would result in overflow, while
not pipetting enough could result in limited to no reaction.
REFERENCES
1. Zumdahl, Steven S., and Susan A. Zumdahl. "Precipitation Reactions." Chemistry.
9th ed. Belmont: Brooks Cole, 2014. 153-57. Print.
2. Clark, Donald E. "Safety and the Laboratory Centrifuge." Chemical Health

and Safety 8.6 (2001): 7-13. Science Direct. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.

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